Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On any horse The easiest rule of thumb is that you should be able to feel ribs by applying gentle pressure, but not see them. Amy Evers Dun Lookin' Fjords Redmond, OR Fjord [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Reena <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Reena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Hi listers! > > > How should one determine if our horses are too fat > or too THIN!? This is > without a mesuring weight tape The rule our vet uses is quite simple: If you can easily see a horse's ribs(not just a faint ripple under the skin when he moves, but REAL RIBS showing whenever you look at him) he is too thin. You should be able to FEEL the ribs when you run your fingers firmly across the horse's ribcage, but not really SEE them. Sometimes a broodmare's ribs will be visible when she moves, as her ribcage gets sprung from carrying foals. It's been my experience that some Fjords are actually a bit too thin when their hipbones or top of croup become visible - it just looks bad, and a few extra pounds will usually cover the bones up a bit better. .I think Gus is > too thin.any hints for > fattening up a bit, with out making them hyper? Yes, add rice bran to his diet. It gets its calories from FAT, not carbohydrates, which are the culprits in grain making a horse 'hyper'. We used rice bran on one of our geldings that was always too thin. Worked wonders - and a great side benefit is the lovely coat they have when on rice bran. Some of the more 'athletic' style Fjords with longer legs and leaner body styles seem to have a tough time keeping weight on - especially when they are growing, or under the stress of training, conditioning, etc. Maybe it's an inherited trait, who knows. But it does exist and is easily remedied by feeding rice bran. Also, be sure the horse is being wormed correctly for his pasture/horse density situation. Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/
Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: "Reena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> no he is thinkI can feel his ribs! he lost alot of weight when we moved here to MIand then hay they feed at the barn isn't the best..he was nicely plump/fat in CA - Original Message - From: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2002 9:51 PM Subject: Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord > This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Reena, you jest about your Fjord being too thin! I have never seen a > thin fjord. Must be a myth? Jean > > > > > Jean Walters Gayle > [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" > Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] > http://users.techline.com/jgayle > Send $20 > Three Horses Press > PO Box 104 > Montesano, WA 98563 > --- This email was scanned for BUGS when it left my computer Outgoing mail is certified Bug Free and Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.344 / Virus Database: 191 - Release Date: 4/2/2002
Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Our friend and neighbor who is a vet and a Professor of animal science at Utah State University (USU) gave me an article about feeding horses from the Horse Industry Handbook it says (and I'll shorten it up just to include moderaterly thin to fat. Moderaterly thin: score 4 back negative crease, ribs mid barrel, see slight outline, neck is moderately thin. Shoulders (forerib) is moderately thin, whithers are moderately thin, tailhead has some fat. Moderate: score 5, back level (no crease), ribs (mid barrel) not see easily feel, neck blend into shoulder, shoulder (forerib) blends smothly into body, whithers are rounded, tailhead has moderate fat. Moderately fleshy: score 6, back slight crease, ribs not see but feel, neck has little fat, shoulders (forerib) little fat, whithers have a little fat, tailhead has moderate fat. Fleshy: score 7, back average crease, ribs barely feel, neck has average fat, shoulders have average fat, whithers have average fat, tailhead is fleshy fat. Fat: score 8, back obvious crease, ribs difficult to feel, neck is fat, shoulders forerib is flush behind, whiters are fat filled, tailhead is fat. I'm afraid both our Fjords fall into the fat catagory at the present time. Now that spring is here I hope we will get some of it worked off them. Hyde Park Utah clear and dry 60 degrees -- OE & Pat Wilson UFF DA Fjords Hyde Park, Utah > This message is from: "Reena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Hi listers! > > > How should one determine if our horses are too fat or too THIN!? This is > without a mesuring weight tape.I think Gus is too thin.any hints for > fattening up a bit, with out making them hyper? > > > Reena and Gus > > > > --- > This email was scanned for BUGS when it left my computer Outgoing mail > is certified Bug Free and > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.344 / Virus Database: 191 - Release Date: 4/2/2002
Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reena, you jest about your Fjord being too thin! I have never seen a thin fjord. Must be a myth? Jean Jean Walters Gayle [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] http://users.techline.com/jgayle Send $20 Three Horses Press PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 4/7/02 6:04:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > How should one determine if our horses are too fat or too THIN!? This is > without a mesuring weight tape.I think Gus is too thin.any hints for > fattening up a bit, with out making them hyper? > You should be able to feel his ribs, but not see them. I don't have any problem fattening up my fjords. Just the opposite. But my QH is rail thin. And picky about her hay, which she gets more of than she will eat. Rolled oats are a good source of nourishment without getting them too hot. Pamela
How to determine correct weight on Fjord
This message is from: "Reena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi listers! How should one determine if our horses are too fat or too THIN!? This is without a mesuring weight tape.I think Gus is too thin.any hints for fattening up a bit, with out making them hyper? Reena and Gus --- This email was scanned for BUGS when it left my computer Outgoing mail is certified Bug Free and Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.344 / Virus Database: 191 - Release Date: 4/2/2002
